The story of Op My Stoep Restaurant in Oranjemund

The restaurant at the old riding club

Look up when you walk into Op My Stoep Restaurant. Caps hang above the tables in a building that dates to 1971, when it was home to the Oranjemund Horse Riding Club. Fanie Smit opened the restaurant there in 2005, and the first lodge chalets followed in 2006 on the old gymkhana and showjumping grounds. That history explains why the lodge and restaurant are still associated with the old riding club.

How Fanie Smit came to run a restaurant

Fanie was born in Trelew, in Argentina’s Chubut province. He trained as an auto electrician in Windhoek and came to Oranjemund to work in his trade. He had liked cooking since childhood, and in 1988 he started catering at the local Off-Road Club. He went on to buy the Desert Inn Restaurant and rename it Don Esteban Steakhouse & Bar.

After selling Don Esteban, Fanie wanted a place where people could have dinner and stay the night. He told Republikein that getting permission to open at the riding club took five years of talks with Namdeb. He credits his son Mauricio with the name Op My Stoep. Mauricio and his wife Shola took over the daily running of the restaurant and lodge when Fanie and Ria retired.

How the caps reached the ceiling

Fanie told Republikein that he started by putting up a few caps when the restaurant opened. Some of the early additions were left behind by diners. He recalled guests coming back to ask about a cap they had left on a chair. He would point up to show them where it had gone. After the chalets opened, travellers brought him caps in person and others sent theirs by post. In September 2023, the newspaper reported 2,370 caps hanging in the restaurant and bar. Take a moment before you order to see which places or teams you recognise.

From the Pampas to the current menu

The Argentine influence comes from Fanie’s own background. In a 2018 interview for the Oranjemund Diamond Festival, he named Pampas Argentinian Steak and Brandy Pepper Strips among his signature dishes. He told Republikein that he especially liked preparing lamb on a spit.

Today the restaurant advertises Argentinian-inspired à la carte dining, Saturday pub lunches and drinks at the lodge bar. Use the WhatsApp link on the restaurant page to ask for the current menu and check table availability. Mention any dietary requirements when you get in touch.

Plan a meal or a private function

The old riding club is about six kilometres outside Oranjemund. If you’re coming straight from the road, use the directions on the lodge’s contact page and check kitchen hours for the evening you’ll be there. For a birthday or team dinner, share your date, group size and menu needs when you enquire about a private function. If you have a day in town, start with the museum and public art before you head out to the lodge.

Related Oranjemund guides

• Things to do in Oranjemund in two days
• Where to stay in Oranjemund for your kind of trip
• An Oranjemund art walk through murals and sculptures

Sources and visitor information

• Op My Stoep’s history at the old riding club
• Fanie Smit interview in Republikein, September 2023
• Fanie Smit interview in the Oranjemund Diamond Festival guide, 2018
• Travel writer Ron Swilling’s visit with Fanie Smit
• Op My Stoep restaurant and current menu enquiries
• Op My Stoep private functions
• Op My Stoep directions and contact details

Cover photo from Op My Stoep Lodge · Op My Stoep website photo · Resized without cropping.